especially libya was chris's bandstand. he knew the members gained through collaboration and personal approach. i want to share one last memory. our daughter maggie was born in 1994 with profound life threatening problems and required many surgeries and long hospitalizations during the first few years. "the chronicle" ran a story in 1996. chris's momma -- mom mary cut out that and sent it to cairo. chris took his time to write a thoughtful note expressing his concern and wishing us well, commenting on how cute maggie was. he closed that note as follows. as they say in this part of the world, and you will forgive me for butchering the arabic. may allah make things easier for you. this is my wish for chris's

family and friends today, as we mourn his loss. the world will never -- the world never saw a kinder, more resolute and enlightened soul. his integrity, character, empathy, his courage, his tolerance were ever present, unchanging, even with all his success and fame and in the face of every challenge. we feel so sad to have lost chris but so lucky to have known him. we will do everything we can to make sure his memory lives on and foster and support the people-first diplomacy he stood for and advocated both at home and abroad. b [ applause ]

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my name is mary numyer. i live in washington but met chris 26 years ago at hastings law school, two blocks from here. we were in the same section in the same study group. when we finished law school we both went to the east coast to work for large law firms. over the years we stayed in close touch. when chris was back from over seas we were frequent tennis partners and would get together for dinners and other events in washington. over the years our families became friends as well. it's been such a pleasure to come to know them and

chris's many friends in washington and to watch his career unfold. we met on the first day of school. i sat down in our civil procedure class next to a person who turned out to be named chris highland. shortly thereafter chris stevens sat down next to me. the three of us went to lunch afterwards and became friends from that day forward. chris never tried to be someone special but he was someone special. when we were at hastings his charm and wit were on display from the start. in class he was very articulate and seemed as later in life always very poised and well spoken and at ease. i think our professors loved him. he liked being a student, even studying at the national war college a few years ago.

he always seemed to genuinely enjoying studying and debating and was immersed in classes and activities of the school. particularly the hastings law journal, where he became managing editor. he very much liked the art of argument and trial law. he used to go to the courts nearby to watch very high profile trials and legendary judges and litigators. while he spent lots of times on the hastings campus, whether in library or out on what is called the beach in front of the school, he also liked to get off-campus and would often go for a run across golden gate bridge or play racquet ball or tennis on russian hill. at hastings there were a number of things that made him stand out. it was clear he had a strong desire to work in the national arena and middle east. he often spoke about his time in morocco. he had already started the

process of applying for foreign service and reading books about american diplomats. i still remember him reading memoirs of george cannon, one of our most famous diplomats and reading publications like foreign affairs magazines. as a summer associate in a washington office he was tasked to go to yale law school and talk about his experiences in the middle east. his mother received post card from chris saying, hi, everybody. i'm here at yale law school giving a lecture on morocco carpet law. he lived his family. his grandmother, an artist, had a number of paintings at the old mint in san

francisco. they reflected scenes from that part of california. he took us down there and proudly showed us her work. although he traveled the world his family was always in his thoughts. california was always his home. what i will most remember about chris is how thoughtful he was and how people were drawn to him. chancellor wu wrote when chris was appointed ambassador, friends, professional acquaintances contacted me to encourage me to reach out to him. he was so well thought of. i sent a hand-written card and to my surprise he returned the correspondence with his own handwritten note. that would be very much like chris. he appreciated and enjoyed interactions with people. in fact, our friend chris highland put it very eloquently when he said, chris was the finest among us.

more than his obviously charms, he was a man of substance and humility. at parties, dinners and gatherings he spent little times talking about himself and his accomplishments. only when he was forced to. instead he asked people about their lives, their views, their accomplishments. he always focused on ther people rather than himself. this is true and never changed. i believe it was central to his success in washington and around the world. for all of us who came to know him it was such pleasure and a privilege. [applause] >> i am the lead ambassador

before and after the revolution. on behalf of the libyan government and libyan people, i want to say to chris' family, parents, brother, sisters and to the american people, we are very sorry. you sent us one of your best diplomats. unfortunate will not able to protect him. i knew chris when i came to this country 2004. i think i met him for the first time before he went to libya, when he was serving at the relations committee in the senate. met him few times in libya when i used to go from time to time. he is the man that there is no limit. he witnessed the suffering

under regime of gadhafi and saw brutality of gadhafi killing his own people using all type weapons. he was the first american representative to go to benghazi, my hometown. every member of the delegation came to this country. when i speak about steven they say yes, chris, we know him. he talked to the people. he meet with the people. he knows their suffering. the main thing, that he trusts them and when they rised against gadhafi, he supported them. chris, it is a great loss for libya. we lost him as a friend and man that understands the history of the people of libya before and after. chris, he built the bridge between libya and the united states. a bridge of love, of hope.

we never believed one day we would be able to raise against this dictatorship. i knew chris after he came back. i knew chris more. he would come to the house and we play tennis. after the tennis we come back home and have libyan breakfast. he is a man of principles and he is serious. i agree he never speaks about himself, what achievement he made. he is a guy when you look for him again. this is kind of different element but one time he told me story when he was serving in tripoli and then in benghazi. he walked on the street of

benghazi and looked over his back and saw two people following. whereever he goes they follow him. hen he stop and he went up to them and he said hello, how are you. yeah, they speak with him. they invite for coffee. these people of course are service. maybe not to protect him in first days but see what he is doing, his contact. this is the type of government we need in this world. he didn't go to them to protest why you are following me. no, he became friends. they became friends. this is chris stevens. i really cry for my family and -- with my family for chris when they hear this news. we lost a friend. we lost a supporter and lost a hero. chris stevens is a hero and part of the libyan history. part of the libyan

revolution. his name will never forget. we will never forget him. i'm sure that his name and his achievement will be part of the history. we again are sorry we cannot protect this professional diplomat who came to help us in a very critical time when we looking for friends and for support and for help. now it is time of peace. we need support of friend who support us during the war. libya is still facing a very critical challenge. the same day chris stevens is the day the parliament first time in 42 years that they elect their first prime minister. thank you united states for your support. again, we are sorry on behalf of libyan people for

the loss of this great friend. thank you very much. [applause] good afternoon, barbara lee. i represent the 9th district, including piedmont and berkeley, where ambassador stevens spent many of his formative years to. the family and friends of our beloved ambassador stevens, to mayor lee, senator feinstein, representative miller and spear, to the attorney general, ambassadors past and present, my friends. let me first express my sincereest condolences to ambassador stevens' family, friends and colleagues in

the face of your tremendous loss. ambassador stevens and the others who lost their lives in libya worked each and every day to advance the highest ideals of this great nation. they will never be forgotten. ambassador stevens, in spite of the many challenges of seeking global peace and security, he truly believed peace is possible. representatives george miller and jackie spear both are with us today. our delegation has the pleasure of entering into the permanent record the life, service, legacy of ambassador stevens. additionally, a flag has

been flown over the capitol by democratic leader nancy pelosi, represented by her daughter christine pelosi. this flag has been presented to the family. in celebration of ambassador stevens life and in honor of his tremendous legacy. as i mentioned, we entered into the congressional record our testimony honoring the life of ambassador john christopher stevens. in the interest of time i won't read the entire congressional record but only an excerpt. it said mr. speaker, i rise with my colleagues to honor, celebrate and remember ambassador john christopher chris stevens. a son of northern california and the bay area, ambassador stevens tragically lost his life in the greatest service to his

country. selflessly and courageously representing american values in a foreign nation he knew intimately and cared for deeply. in his diplomatic capacity, ambassador stevens brought a profound and prolific knowledge of arab world and middle east to his assignment. his exemplary gift for making personal connections was invaluable as his role as specific representative and ambassador to one of the most complex and challenging regions of the world. therefore as we join in recognizing ambassador stevens am myself midst a sober outpouring of praise from his family, colleagues, fellow americans and the leaders of this nation, we remember also that chris stevens was beloved by many libyans as

well. therefore on behalf of the residents of northern california and our entire state, we join president barack obama, secretary of state hillary rodham clinton, democratic leader nancy pelosi and expensive network of people in saluting ambassador chris stevens who will be remembered for his strong sense of dignity, his humility and his generous service to others. he will be truly missed by all who loved him and by all he served throughout the magnitude of his life's work. thank you for this honor. [applause]

members of christopher stevens family, ladies and gentlemen, let me first thank chris stevens' brothers and sisters for their warm and delightful insights into what he was really like. thank you so much. that was fantastic what you did for us. christopher stevens was obviously an extraordinary human being and contributor. every year at stanford we have a group of what we call national security fellows come. they were roughly army, navy, air force, state department. a couple weeks ago we had a

meeting and the first person i called on was an army colonel. i said where were you last? he said in libya. i said did you know christopher stevens? he said everybody knew christopher stevens. he was our leader, fluent in arabic, constructive, positive, doing something, he was our leader. this spontaneous practically eruption from him. he was a foreign service officer. anybody who has served with a foreign service as i did as the secretary of state knows, what a very special group of people this is. they are very able people. dedicated. they work hard for our country.

chris was extraordinary and stood out. i thought what image can i think of that might express our way of thinking about him. i thought of the great seal of our republic. i don't know how many of you have ever looked carefully at it. the center is an eagle. in one talon the eagle is holding an olive branch. the eagle is looking at the olive branch to show that the united states will always seek peace. the other talon, the eagle is holding arrows to show that the united states understands if you will be effective and successful in seeking peace, you must be

strong. let me expand. because it only only peace but a better kind. the elimination of poverty, better lives all over the world for ourselves and other people. the arrows don't just stand for military strength but capability, they stand for the idea that the underwill try to recruit the best and most capable to apply themselves to those grand objectives. as i studied the life of christopher stevens, he embodied that and sought the grand objectives that our dwok si stands for.

we gather to mourn his loss and demonstrate to his family how much we understand their grief. we also gather to celebrate the immense accomplishments this man has made for us. i picked out of my closet a tie. says on it democracy is not a spectator sport. christopher stevens was a participant. a full, strong, effective participant in his beloved democracy. chris, thank you. [applause]

>> good afternoon, my name is tom pickering. chris stevens was a friend and a colleague. more than that he was among the very best our foreign service has to offer in support of our people and our country. a man destined for even greater challenges and successes. it is a special honor for me to be asked to be here and say a few words in his memory. i must begin by offer approximating my sincere condolences and passion to his family and friends gathered here this afternoon to honor his memory. in truth, what we say here

our words, can only be a pale shadow for his service and sacrifice for his nation and people. indeed that of his colleagues, glen dougherty, sean smith, tyrone woods. i know you all join me in honoring and appreciating their service and devotion as well. chris and i worked together for a time almost a dozen years ago. he was even then fully committed to his work. an authority already in the middle east. a fine student of arabic. much more. he gave me careful and cogent advice and council as we wrestled together with the many growing problems that even back then were en endemic to the country's work.

i learned about benghazi, as the critical changes in libya began to unfold. his leadership there at a time of great importance and danger was a tribute to his courage and bravery. his skill and dedication as a diplomat. to his commitment to a new and better libya. benghazi in a real sense, as you have heard today, became his city. as it is with a deep sense of fate that in benghazi he and his colleagues gave that last full measure for his country and his many friends in the city where he died, continuing to defend and prosper their hopes and their aspirations for the future. many have commented since on chris's salient commitment to the people of benghazi. john thorn writing in the christian science monitor noted that when he passed

in the street, the young men would call out, hello, chris. they knew his face. would laugh and say hello always. this is the right way to deal with our people, he said. libyan friends said he was always ready to put his country first. he shone by being himself, interested in the lives of ordinary people. his death was met with shock and sadness in libya. feelings with regard to americans that are rare in that part of the world these days. for me that judgment captures key characteristics of chris and his approach to life and work. secretary of state hi